Global Information Society Watch is an annual report co-produced by the APC network and partners, which looks at the progress being made in creating an inclusive information society worldwide (particularly in implementing WSIS goals), encourages critical debate and strengthens networking and advocacy for a just, inclusive information society.

The country reports are easy to read and offer a quick insight into a country situation. Contributors are primarily from civil society organisations active in ICT issues in their countries, and for many when the publication was first launched in 2007, it was the first time they had put their analysis of the state of ICT in their countries on paper. Since 2007, GISWatch has covered citizen participation in ICT policy processes, access to ICT infrastructure and access to information and knowledge. That the same authors are writing about these issues from a country perspective suggests that their understanding of a broad ICT policy environment should grow over time as they grapple with what, for some, may be new topics. And as their understanding grows, so will their confidence and ability to engage in related policy and advocacy processes. For APC, this is the real capacity-building value of GISWatch.

“The fact that GISWatch is being used in universities is encouraging, as universities are highly influential places when it comes to ICT policy. For contributors to have a voice in this space is important”, commented GISWatch editor Alan Finlay.

The 2015 issue – currently being developed – is on sexual rights and the internet, and will be launched at the IGF in November 2015.

Country reports cover places as diverse as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kazakhstan, Mexico and Switzerland and are contextualised by regional overviews (North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the former Soviet Union, South-East Asia and the Pacific).